Cleaner for optical information processing device, and optical information processing device

ABSTRACT

A cleaner (C 1 ) for an magneto-optical disk device includes a cartridge ( 4 ), a disk ( 1 ), an adhesive sheet ( 2 ) stuck to the disk ( 1 ), a clamping disk ( 3 ), and a shutter ( 5 ). The clamping disk ( 3 ) is stored rotatable in the cartridge ( 4 ), and the disk ( 1 ) is fixed to the cartridge ( 4 ) at a position apart from the clamping disk ( 3 ). By this means, it becomes possible to safely clean an optical head ( 17 ). Also, dust can be prevented from scattering to the magneto-optical disk device (P 1 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cleaner for cleaning an optical headof an optical information processing device and an optical informationprocessing device.

The “optical information processing device” in this specification refersto an information processing device which can record and/or playbackdata employing an optical means. Hence, it is a broad concept whichincludes a type of information processing device which can perform datarewriting to an optical recording medium by the magneto-opticalrecording method or the phase change method in additional to an opticalprocessing device of a narrow definition dedicated to reading data froman optical disk.

BACKGROUND ART

In optical disk devices represented by CD players and DVD players,reading/writing of information to an optical disk is performed using anoptical head. The optical head is equipped with an objective lens whichforms a laser spot on the recording plane of an optical disk bycondensing laser light emanating from a laser light source. Dust mayadhere to the objective lens, which if it becomes dirty, thereading/writing performance of the optical head becomes degraded. Hence,it is desirable that the optical head be cleaned periodically, andvarious kinds of cleaners have been proposed in the past as statedhereafter.

Described in JP-A-2000-251296 is a cleaner for optical disk devices. Thecleaner has a brush installed on a disk. By inserting the cleaner to anoptical disk device and placing the brush in contact with the opticalhead of the optical disk device in a state where the disk is rotated athigh speed, cleaning of the optical disk is performed.

Described in JP-A-H4-221432, H5-120713, H6-124473, and H8-55356 arecleaners which use a cloth, a wet-type tip, an elastically-deformableporous body, or a spongy elastic member as a contact member for cleaningan optical head. In the cleaners described in these laid-open patentpublications as well, in the same way as for the cleaner described inJP2000-251296, cleaning the optical head is performed by putting thecontact member in contact with the optical head while rotating it athigh speed.

However, in these prior-art techniques, because the contact member isbrought into contact with the optical head while rotating it at highspeed, there is the possibility that the objective lens of the opticalhead may be scratched. Also, dust attached to the optical head will bescattered into the optical information processing device by thehigh-speed rotation of the contact member. Hence, there is also theproblem that dust remains and accumulates inside the optical diskdevice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a cleaner for anoptical information processing device and an optical informationprocessing device which can solve or reduce the problem.

The cleaner for optical information processing devices provided by thefirst aspect of the present invention is a cleaner for opticalprocessing devices equipped with a contact member for cleaning which cancome into contact with the optical head of an optical informationprocessing device and is characterized by the fact that an adhesivemember having adhesive on its surface is used as the contact member.

Preferably, the adhesive member should be constructed to maintain astate wherein movement intersecting with its contact direction isprevented when it comes into contact with the optical head.

Preferably, at least the surface portion of the adhesive member isprovided with rubbery elasticity.

Preferably, at least the surface portion of the adhesive member isconstructed of a gel.

Preferably, as the optical recording medium of an optical informationprocessing device, the cleaner for the optical information processingdevices of the present invention is equipped with a cartridge which isloadable to the loading section, wherein the adhesive member iscontained within the cartridge, and a window is formed which enablescontact between the adhesive member and the optical head.

Preferably, the cleaner for optical information processing devices ofthe present invention is equipped with a shutter which enables thewindow to open/close freely.

Preferably, the adhesive member is installed on the position inside thecartridge facing the window.

Preferably, a disk for clamping is contained to be rotatable inside thecartridge, and the adhesive member should be positioned in a place apartfrom the disk.

Preferably, it is equipped with a first disk for clamping, and a seconddisk supported by the first disk, and is provided with a built-inadhesive member, wherein the first and second disks is allowed to rotaterelative to each other in the track direction.

Preferably, a hole for spindle insertion is formed on the center of thefirst disk.

Preferably, a hole is formed on the center of the second disk, and thewhole or a part of the first disk is fit into the hole in a relativelyrotatable manner.

Preferably, a support means is built into the optical informationprocessing device and supports the adhesive member. At least one of theoptical head and the support means is movable in the focusing directionand a direction intersecting with the focusing direction, whereby theoptical head and the adhesive member are brought into contact with eachother and brought away from each other.

An optical information processing device according to a second aspect ofthe present invention includes an optical head and a cleaning contactmember that can be brought into contact with the optical head. Thecontact member comprises an adhesive member having an adhesive surface.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will becomeclear from the explanations of the embodiments of the present inventionstated below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the cleaner foroptical information processing devices related to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded oblique view of the cleaner for opticalinformation processing devices shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing of the state of using the cleaner foroptical information processing devices shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the cleaner foroptical information processing devices related to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cleaner for optical informationprocessing devices shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the cleaner foroptical information processing devices related to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an outline oblique view of another example of the cleaner foroptical information processing devices related to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiment forms of the present invention are explainedhereafter with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of the cleaner for optical informationprocessing devices to which the present invention is applied. A cleanerC₁ is used for cleaning magneto-optical disk devices is constructed tobe equipped with a cartridge 4, a disk 1 contained in the cartridge 4,an adhesive sheet 2, a clamping disk 3, and a shutter 5. The cartridge 4is formed by joining a first member 40 and a second member 41 so as toform a apace inside. A window 40 a is formed on the first member 40.Attached to the center inside the cartridge 4 is the clamping disk 3which is rotated by a spindle 20 of a magneto-optical disk device P₁shown in FIG. 3. Formed on the center of the second member 41 is acircular opening 41 a which exposes one side of the clamping disk 3 toallow the spindle of the magneto-optical disk device P₁ to make contact.The shutter 5 is for opening/closing the window 40 a and ordinarilykeeps the window 40 a closed with a force of a spring (not shown). Onthe other hand, when the cleaner C₁ is loaded into the magneto-opticaldisk device P₁, this shutter 5 moves by a shutter opening mechanism ofthe magneto-optical disk P₁ and opens the window 40 a.

The adhesive sheet 2 is pasted on the position facing the window 40 a onone side of the disk 1. As the adhesive sheet 2, use is made of one madeof a material equipped with enough adhesiveness to effectively attachdust on its surface. However, materials having excessive adhesivenessare not appropriate because the adhesive component would stick to anoptical head 17 of the magneto-optical disk device P₁. The entireadhesive sheet 2 has rubbery elasticity, and is made of silicone rubberas its concrete material. As material equipped with such requirements asthe above and which are in wide circulation, there are KE3495manufactured by Shin'etsu Chemical Industry Corp. and SRT-33-Smanufactured by Sakase Chemical Industry Corp. for example.Specifically, the adhesive sheet 2 may be given construction wherein itis entirely made of silicone rubber and pasted to the disk 1 with anadhesive, etc. The present invention also allows construction whichemploys a sheet wherein only the surface portion is made of siliconerubber, in which an adhesive layer is formed on the other face, and theyare accumulated with a base substance.

The disk 1 has an opening la on the center, and its shape and size inthe state where the clamping disk 3 is combined with it are similar tothose of general cartridge-type magneto-optical disks. This disk 1 isfixed to the second member 41 by the opening la installed on the disk 1and a pin 41 b installed on the second member 41 of the cartridge,fitting with one another. On the other hand, the clamping disk 3 isrotatably supported by the first member 40 and the second member 41 ofthe cartridge 4. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a pin 40 b installed onthe first member 40 is inserted into an opening 3 a installed on theclamping disk 3, and the clamping disk 3 is supported to be freelyrotatable inside the disk 1 by being sandwiched by the first member 40and the second member 41. According to such construction, when thecleaner C₁ is loaded into the magneto-optical disk device Pa, only theclamping disk 3 is rotated by the spindle of the magneto-optical diskdevice P₁, and the disk 1 is not rotated.

An explanation is provided next of the construction of themagneto-optical disk device P₁ wherein the cleaner C₁ is used, withreference to FIG. 3.

The magneto-optical disk device P₁ is equipped with an optical unit 13,a carriage 15, and a spindle 20. The optical unit 13 is equipped with anlight emission system comprising a laser light source, a prism to formlight, etc., and a light reception system comprising a beam splitter tosplit light returned from an optical disk, a detector to sense returnedlight, a lens to condense light onto the detector, etc. (none of themshown). A laser beam 14 emitted from the optical unit 13 is changed ofits direction toward the disk 1 by an upward-redirecting mirror 16 ofthe carriage 15. The laser beam 14 passes through an objective lens 17 ainstalled on an optical head 17 and is radiated onto an magneto-opticaldisk (not shown) loaded in a loading section L₁. (Shown in FIG. 3 is astate in which the cleaner C₁ is loaded, and the magneto-optical disk isnot shown.) The carriage 15 is equipped with a bearing 19, which is madeto be movable in the radial direction of the disk 1. The optical head 17is supported by a suspension (not shown) inside an actuator 18. By theactuator 18 controlling the position of the optical head 17, focusingcontrol is performed. Specifically, immediately after an magneto-opticaldisk is loaded into the magneto-optical disk device P₁ or when dataread/write is performed, the optical head 17 is allowed to approach themagneto-optical disk by the actuator 18, and if focusing is preciselydone, the actuator 18 is controlled so as to maintain that state. Iffocusing is not done properly, the control is executed again, and thecontrol is repeated for a set number of times until focusing becomesproper. Also, the optical head 17 is equipped with a coil for formingmagnetism (not shown) other than the objective lens 17 a.

Next, the cleaning action of the optical head 17 by the cleaner C₁ isexplained.

First, when the cleaner C₁ is loaded into the loading section L₁ of themagneto-optical disk device P₁, the clamping disk 3 is held by thespindle 20. Also, the window 40 a opens by the shutter 5 being moved bythe opening mechanism (not shown) of the magneto-optical disk device P₁.Next, focusing control is started, wherein the objective lens 17 a isallowed to approach the cleaner C₁ by the actuator 18. At this time evenwhen the clamping disk 3 of the cleaner C₁ is rotated by the rotatingspindle 20, the disk 1 is not rotated in this construction. Therefore,the objective lens 17 is allowed to approach the adhesive sheet 2 in astill state, and the adhesive sheet 2 and the objective lens 17 a comeinto contact with each other. At this time, the adhesive sheet 2 isstill and does not physically wipe the lens 17 a. However, because theadhesive sheet 2 has appropriate adhesiveness, dust on the lens 17 aadheres to the adhesive sheet 2. By this means, the objective lens 17 ais cleaned. On the other hand, because the adhesive sheet 2 is made ofsilicone rubber, it is hard to reflect light. Hence, because thedetector cannot detect returned light, focusing control continuesafterwards. Hence, by the objective lens 17 a being driven up and downrepeatedly, the adhesive sheet 2 and the objective lens 17 a come intocontact with each other repeatedly, and cleaning of the objective lens17 a. is repeated. After the process is repeated several times, themagneto-optical disk device P₁ recognizes that an error in disk judgmenthas occurred and focusing control is ended. By this means, the opticalhead 17 equipped with the objective lens 17 a retreats to a specifiedposition, and cleaning of the objective lens 17 is completed.

In this way, the adhesive sheet 2 does not rotate and only comes intocontact with the objective lens 17 a in a still state. Hence, littlehorizontal frictional force occurs between them. Also, the adhesivesheet 2 made of silicone rubber has flexibility and becomes deformedelastically to fit with the objective lens 17 during contact, there isno excessive force such as that of the applied impact, and scratchingthe objective lens 17 and damaging other parts of the optical head 17can be prevented. Furthermore, because the adhesive sheet 2 performs thefunction of retaining dust adhered to its surface, dust adhering to theadhesive sheet 2 does not adhere to the objective lens 17 a again.Because dust is not wiped away at high speed as in cleaning with abrush, dust is not scattered into the magneto-optical disk device P₁.Hence, dust can be prevented from remaining and accumulating inside themagneto-optical disk device P₁.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show another example of the present invention. Acleaner C₂ in the present embodiment, unlike the cleaner C₁, forcleaning optical disk devices for reading/writing a medium having nocartridge, is constructed by being equipped with a cleaner disk 51, aclamping disk 52, and a ring-shaped adhesive sheet 53.

The adhesive sheet 53 is pasted so as to cover all tracks of one side ofthe disk 51. Also, as the material of the adhesive sheet 53, siliconerubber is adequate in the same way as in the embodiment example statedabove.

The clamping disk 52 is fit into an opening installed at the center ofthe disk 51. A ring-shaped concave section 51 a on the innercircumference of the disk 51 and a ring-shaped convex section 52 a onthe outer circumference of the clamping disk 52 fit with each other, bywhich the disk 51 and the clamping disk 52 are given a constructionwherein they can rotate relative to each other in the track directionand do not disengage in the thickness direction.

Actions of the cleaner C₂ are explained next.

Once the cleaner C₂ is loaded into a loading section of an optical diskdevice, the clamping disk 52 is held by the spindle 81 of the opticaldisk device. An optical head 80 of the optical disk device is allowed toapproach the cleaner C₂ from below the cleaner C₂ for performingfocusing control. Afterwards, an objective lens 80 a installed on theoptical head 80 and the adhesive sheet 53 come into contact with eachother. At this time, the clamping disk 52 may occasionally be rotated bythe spindle 81 rotating. However, the disk 51 and the clamping disk 52are given a construction that allows them to rotate relative to eachother. Also, the disk 51 comes into contact with the objective lens viathe adhesive sheet 53. Hence, in the case, at least while the adhesivesheet 53 and the objective lens 80 a are in contact with each other, thedisk 51 remains still, and only the clamping disk 52 rotates. Then, bydust on the objective lens 80 a adhering onto the adhesive sheet 53, theobjective lens 80 a is cleaned. Hence, the same cleaning effect as inthe embodiment form described above can be obtained.

Shown in FIG. 6 is another example of cleaner used for optical diskdevices which read/write a medium having no cartridge.

A cleaner C₃ of the present embodiment form has a similar constructionto the cleaner C₂, and is equipped with a disk 61, a clamping disk 62,and a ring-shaped adhesive sheet 63. The clamping disk 62 comprises alower member 62 a and an upper member 62 b. By a part of the lowermember 62 a being fit into a hole installed on the upper member 62 bthrough a hole installed on the disk 61, the upper member 62 a and thelower member 62 b are combined. By such a construction, the disk 61 andthe clamping disk 62 are given a construction wherein they can rotaterelative to each other and do not disengage from each other in thethickness direction. According to such construction, the same effect aswhen cleaning with the cleaner C₂ can be obtained.

Shown in FIG. 7 is an example of the magneto-optical disk device relatedto the present invention.

A magneto-optical disk device P₂ is equipped with an optical unit (notshown), a carriage 15, an optical head 17, and a spindle 20 in the sameway as in the magneto-optical disk device P₁. Furthermore, in additionto these, it is provided with a cleaner 70. The cleaner 70 is equippedwith an arm 71, an adhesive-sheet 72, and a driving mechanism 73.

The adhesive sheet 72 is made of silicone rubber used in the embodimentexample described above, which is pasted on the bottom face of the arm71. The arm 71 is capable of rotating and ascending/descending by thedriving mechanism 73.

The procedure of cleaning of the optical head 17 by the cleaner 70 isexplained below.

When a magneto-optical disk D is loaded in a loading section L₂ of themagneto-optical disk device P₂, the arm 71 is retreated into a positionwhich does not interfere with the magneto-optical disk D. In FIG. 7 thecleaner mechanism 70 in the retreated position is shown by a solid line.Cleaning is started after the magneto-optical disk D enters a state inwhich it is not loaded into the magneto-optical disk device P_(2,).First, the arm 71 is rotated by the driving mechanism 73 from theretreated position to a position immediately above the optical head 17.Next, the arm 71 is lowered by the driving mechanism 73 in the directionof the optical head 17. By so doing, the adhesive sheet 72 and objectivelens 17 a of the optical head 17 come into contact with each other.Then, by dust on the objective lens 17 a adhering to an adhesive sheet2, the objective lens 17 a is cleaned. Subsequently, after the arm 71 islifted up by the driving mechanism 73 in the direction of moving awayfrom the optical head 17, it is rotated to the retreated position.

According to such construction, a user can clean the optical head 17without performing a work for loading the cleaner. Also, because dust isattached to the adhesive sheet 72 and does not fly scattered into themagneto-optical disk device P₂, dust can be prevented from accumulatinginside the magneto-optical disk device P₂. Note that it may be given aconstruction in which the adhesive sheet 72 and the objective lens 17 aare put in contact with each other without lifting/lowering the arm 71but by lifting/lowering the optical head 17.

Although silicone rubber is used as the raw material for the adhesivesheet in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.In the present invention, the adhesive sheet can be constructed of amaterial which has rubbery elasticity other than silicone rubber.

In the present invention, a gel (e.g., trade mark Alpha Gel manufacturedby Geltech Corp.) having silicone as the main raw material may be usedas the raw material of the adhesive sheet. It is possible to equip thisgel with enough adhesiveness to adhere dust onto the objective lens 17 ain the same way as silicone rubber used in the embodiment. Also, gelsare flexible and deformable by external forces. Hence, even when thisgel is put in contact with the objective lens 17 a, it can be fitflexibly with the objective lens 17 a. Because of this, havingelasticity is not especially necessary in using a gel.

1. A cleaner for an optical information processing device, comprising acleaning contact member coming into contact with an optical head of theoptical information processing device, wherein the contact membercomprises an adhesive member including an adhesive surface.
 2. Thecleaner for an optical information processing device according to claim1, wherein the adhesive member maintains a state which prevents it frommoving in a direction intersecting with the contact direction when itcomes into contact with the optical head.
 3. The cleaner for an opticalinformation processing device according to claim 1, wherein at least thesurface portion of the adhesive member has rubbery elasticity.
 4. Thecleaner for an optical information processing device according to claim1, wherein at least the surface portion of the adhesive member isconstructed of a gel.
 5. The cleaner for an optical informationprocessing device according to claim 1, further comprising a cartridgeformed loadable into a loading section for optical recording media of anoptical information processing device, wherein the cartridge contains anadhesive member and has a window formed which enables contact betweenthe adhesive member and the optical head.
 6. The cleaner for an opticalinformation processing device according to claim 5, further comprising ashutter which makes the window freely open/close.
 7. The cleaner for anoptical information processing device according to claim 6, wherein theadhesive member is installed fixed to the position facing the windowinside the cartridge.
 8. The cleaner for an optical informationprocessing device according to claim 7, wherein a disk for clamping iscontained rotatable inside the cartridge, and the adhesive member ispositioned away from the disk.
 9. The cleaner for an optical informationprocessing device according to claim 1, further comprising a first diskfor clamping and a second disk which is supported by the first disk andhas the adhesive member built in, wherein the first and second disks areset rotatable relative to each other in their track direction.
 10. Thecleaner for an optical information processing device according to claim9, wherein a hole for inserting a spindle is formed on the center of thefirst disk.
 11. The cleaner for an optical information processing deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein a hole is formed on the center of thesecond disk, and the whole or a part of the first disk fits in the holein a relatively rotatable manner.
 12. The cleaner for an opticalinformation processing device according to claim 1, further comprising asupport means which is built in the optical information processingdevice and supports the adhesive member, wherein at least one of theoptical head and the support means is movable in the focusing directionand a direction intersecting with the focusing direction, whereby theoptical head and the adhesive member are brought into contact with eachother and brought away from each other.
 13. An optical informationprocessing device provided with an optical head and a cleaning contactmember coming into contact with the optical head, wherein the contactmember comprises an adhesive member having an adhesive surface.